WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN PANCHAYATI RAJ: AN ANALYSIS
Abstract
In India, ‘Panchayati Raj’ is seen as an institutional manifestation of ‘democratic decentralisation’. It suggests growth and wise leadership. Decentralization of power to the Panchayats is observed as a means of empowering people which is achieved by involving them in the decision-making process. It is a type of grassroots participatory governance that has been tried out in the third tier.
But the study of Panchayati Raj and women’s participation are in limited numbers Participation of women has so far been negligible in the decision-making process in political institutions. Studies available on women in the political process in the country are critically limited to
- On the role of women in the freedom struggle,
- Women in the electoral process as voters, candidates and members of the legislature and
- Their participation in Panchayats after the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
- Apart from this there have been some superficial examinations of the role of women in public life and studies of women’s organizations
This paper makes a humble effort to study the effectiveness of women’s participation and empowerment in Panchayati Raj system. The first part of the paper discusses on 73rd Amendment Act that makes an effort bridging the gap of women’s political participation. The second part makes some statistical analysis. While the third part discusses the challenges that women face in participating in panchayats.
Keywords: Participation, effectiveness, empowerment, public life.
